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Students in German Theater Practicum to Present Comedic Political Satire

UPublish story by John Finn

Published:
April 18, 2014 - 04:28 PM

WOOSTER, Ohio — How might world leaders respond if they knew that the prospect for global peace was at hand? Not as predictably as one might think, according to playwright Curt Goetz, whose comedic political satire Ausbruch des Weltfriedens (The Outbreak of World Peace) will be presented by students in The College of Wooster’s German Theater Practicum next week. The play, which is free and open to the public, will be performed on Tuesday, April 29, in Shoolroy Theater (329 E. University St.) beginning at 7:30 p.m.

Richard Figge, Gingrich Professor of German Emeritus, will direct the play, which will showcase the linguistic and comedic skills of the 10 students in the class. “Each student has taken at least four semesters of German,” he says. “The play is a linguistic tour de force for them.”

After reading and considering various texts, the class decided on Goetz's political satire, in which Lord Hatter, the British Prime Minister, invites diplomats from as many countries as possible to attend a hastily organized meeting in the middle of the night to discuss a new invention that can guarantee world peace.

“Lord Hatter doesn't want to act on his own so he seeks their advice,” says Figge. “What would they say if they knew that the possibility of world peace was at hand? A good idea? Then why are they all so reluctant? The play makes its sharp satirical point before resolving the dilemma.”

For those who don’t speak German but would like to see the production, an English-language summary of the action is included in the program. Additional information is available by phone (330-263-2145) or e-mail jfinn@wooster.edu).

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